On Apartheid
by Jonathan Kuttab
We are fortunate to live in an age wherein apartheid is universally condemned, recognized as a crime against humanity for which individuals can be criminally prosecuted under international law. The primary moral issue at stake, therefore, is what our response to this phenomena will be when we see it. As such, FOSNA is proud to join in the effort to support and encourage our churches to play a role in combating the evil of apartheid, as they publicly declare themselves to be “Apartheid-Free.”
It may be worthwhile to remember the moral and theological basis for our opposition to Apartheid. In the past, those who argued in favor of apartheid claimed they were merely against “the mixing of the races.” They merely wanted separation from others, to safeguard their own community’s identity and purity. “Separate but equal” was the slogan often utilized in its defense, though it was always the more powerful group advocating for such separation, and true equality was anathema to them. More often, they clearly and frankly claimed superiority on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin, feeling as if they were in some sense “chosen,” “special,” or "superior." Therefore, as it was claimed, they were legitimately entitled to their privileged status.
Jesus dealt directly with this issue. He challenged the pride and self righteousness of those who considered themselves "children of Abraham” and who therefore thought of gentiles as inferior, unclean to the point that mere contact would contaminate them. Jesus, in contrast, dealt with everyone, including the weak, the ill, the despised, and the vulnerable, declaring that “God is no respecter of persons.” Also, the early church quickly established, as the apostle Paul makes clear, that in Christ “there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for all are one in Christ Jesus.” All are equally the children of God. Yet, the Bible also reminds us that Christians could themselves fall prey very easily to this false sense of pride, feeling as if they are somehow especially privileged and “more worthy” than others. This continues to be a temptation today as we see the rise of Christian nationalism and the feeling, not always openly expressed, that our religion, our group, our community, our country is somehow better, more deserving, or more exceptional than all others.
The only antidote to this is true humility and a recognition of the equality of all before God. It requires that we make a determined effort to fight for equality and against all forms of discrimination, racism, apartheid, and special privilege. This includes fighting against anti-Jewish antisemitism, alongside Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian prejudice. Such bigotry is wrong; it is immoral and a sin against God.
Faith groups across the country pledge to end support of Israeli apartheid
OAKLAND, CA (June 1, 2023) On June 6 – the anniversary of the 1967 Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem – a coalition of many faith groups and secular organizations will announce the public launch of the Apartheid-Free campaign. They are calling on congregations, faith communities, schools, and organizations to take a pledge to work against apartheid in all its forms and support an end to Israeli apartheid against Palestinians. The launch will be accompanied by an online event on June 6 at 5PM PT/8 PM ET. Participants and journalists can register here.
“Israeli apartheid devastates lives and destroys communities,” said Dov Baum, director of Economic Activism for the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). “As an Israeli Jewish person myself, I see how its violence corrupts all levels of Israeli society. It is time for progressives in the U.S. to stop their misguided and indiscriminate support of this racist regime and call for true equality and freedom for all people in Palestine/Israel.”
Already, more than 65 congregations, faith groups, and organizations have come out today calling themselves "apartheid-free” and pledging to take action against Israeli apartheid. This includes three nationwide signatories – the United Church of Christ (UCC), South Central Yearly Meeting (Quaker) and the Alliance of Baptists – as well as Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and Interfaith groups.
“Some of the UCC’s Palestinian partners have named their situation as apartheid for years,” said Dr. Peter E. Makari, Global Relations Minister, Middle East and Europe Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ. “It is imperative that we name the reality of laws and practices for what it is: apartheid – both as an international legal definition and as our moral responsibility to speak truth – as we accompany partners in their struggle for justice. As a church that has been privileged to enjoy partnerships with Palestinian Christians, among others, we continue to walk with them in solidarity, and supporting this Apartheid-Free campaign can be a part of that witness.”
The idea for an Apartheid-Free campaign took root in 2022, following the emerging consensus among the international human rights community that Israel’s treatment of the Palestinian people amounts to the crime of apartheid. An interdenominational coalition of faith groups in North America, convened by AFSC, came together to organize the pledge. This coalition includes Black Christians for Palestine, Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT), Episcopal Peace Fellowship – Palestine Israel Network (EPF PIN), Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA), Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (IPMN), Justice for Palestine and Israel Community of the Alliance of Baptists, Mennonite Palestine Israel Network (MennoPIN), Quaker Palestine Israel Network (QPIN), United Church of Christ Palestine Israel Network (UCC-PIN), United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR), and Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East (UUJME).
“Christian communities have a particular responsibility to support Palestinians since it is our religion that has been co-opted into a distorted and anti-Semitic interpretation through Christian Zionism,” said Rev. Allison Tanner, national organizer for the Apartheid-Free Communities Initiative. “Christian Zionists are by far the largest single supporters of Israel and have created the largest pro-Israel lobby in the country. It is time for Christians to rise up and say this violence can no longer be committed in our name.”
For decades, the Palestinian people have faced Israeli occupation enforced through racist and discriminatory legal regimes, forced displacement, blockade and movement restrictions, and systematic human rights abuses. The Apartheid-Free coalition has published a collection of resources about Israeli apartheid, including reports from all mainstream human rights organizations and legal experts explaining to use of this legal terminology, videos, webinars, and study guides.
Organizations who take the pledge also commit to take action to help end apartheid, including educational and advocacy efforts, faith-based initiatives, and divestment actions. Currently 69 organizations have taken the pledge, with many more expected in the coming weeks and months.
Learn more at https://apartheid-free.org/
FOSNA News
Drop G4S Victory!
In previous years, FOSNA helped coordinate the Drop G4S campaign. G4S is an international private security company that profits off of illegal settlements, prisons, and checkpoints.
In 2015, FOSNA wrote a report on child detention in the occupied Palestinian Territories/Israel and exactly how G4S is involved in the arrest, detention, torture, and control of Palestinian children as an extension of the occupation.
Today, we celebrate the work of our FOSNA predecessors and all who worked on this campaign as we are happy to share a major campaign win!
The world's largest private security company, Allied Universal, which acquired G4S in 2021, has decided to sell all of its remaining business in Israel.
Recent Updates on Shadi Khoury
[EPF PINontheGo] Last Sunday during Shadi Khoury's hearing, the prosecution's first witness was a 15 year old boy who had originally confessed that he saw Shadi participate in the demonstration, only to withdraw his police confession, and testify that the Israeli interrogators coerced him into the confession. He testified that he was verbally abused during his interrogation. He had only agreed to sign the confession under psychological and physical torture.
Instead of releasing Shadi for lack of evidence, or at least declaring a mistrial, the judge cancelled the two additional hearings scheduled for last week and gave the prosecution until October 23rd to bring more evidence iagainst Shadi. The judge didn't even revoke Shadi's house arrest, which will remain in place for at least 40 days, when his attorney can appeal.
Take Action!
Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Act (HR3103)
Tell your representative to cosponsor or support the Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act, reintroduced by Rep. Betty McCollum (MN-04) for the new congressional term.
Get Involved!
We invite you to join us in the following events and activities:
June 6: Zoom
Apartheid-Free Communities: Launching a New Initiative to End Israeli Apartheid
Join AFSC on June 6th at 8:00 pm ET for the official launch of the Apartheid Free Communities Initiative.
In late 2022, a coalition of faith groups in North America came together to respond to the emerging consensus among the international human rights community that Israel's treatment of the Palestinian people amounts to the Crime of Apartheid. Together, we drafted an Apartheid-Free pledge through which faith groups, organizations, and communities commit to dismantling Apartheid in Israel and Palestine. Over 50 congregations, faith groups, and organizations have already signed the pledge.
On June 6th, the 56th anniversary of Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, we are making our pledge public and calling on others to join us in our work to oppose all forms of racism while working to cut ties to Israel Apartheid.
During the launch you will hear from faith leaders and activists including Jonathan Kuttab, Rev. Wendel Griffen, and Dov Baum about the importance of the pledge and how you can help build a wide anti-Apartheid movement throughout North America.
June 6 - 9: Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Gandhi Mandela King Conference
Our Executive Director Jonathan Kuttab will be speaking virtually at the Gandhi Mandela King conference in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa! This year's theme is Peace and Justice for All – Mobilizing for Nonviolent Action (Ahimsa).
Learn more about the conference here.
June 18: Online
VFHL Film Salon: The First 54 Years: An Abbreviated Manual for Military Occupation
What are the circumstances, logic, and day-to-day processes that allow the normalization of the Israeli military occupation?
Almost 3 million Palestinians live under military occupation on land captured by Israel in the ’67 war, plus another 2 million in Gaza. What does “military occupation” mean for people living under it? Witness first-hand testimonies from former IDF soldiers and historical film clips that show the devastating results not only on the occupied Palestinians, but also on Israeli youth conscripted to enforce it. In The First 54 Years: An Abbreviated Manual for Military Occupation, Director Avi Mograbi hosts the viewers in his living room and provides insights to how a colonialist occupation works–the logic behind its brutal practices and the different modes of thought needed to sustain it despite international condemnation.
July 8 - 17: Palestine
FOSNA Witness Trip
We are hosting a witness trip with Sabeel led by Nyle Fort and Jonathan Kuttab this July! For 9 days, our delegation will be traveling across Palestine experiencing the reality of joy, resistance, and struggle of the Palestinian community.
Weekly
Sabeel Prayer Service. Join Sabeel every Thursday (6pm Palestine) for online Bible Study, discussion, and prayer. Examine scripture in light of the ongoing realities confronting the Palestinian Church and the pursuit of Palestinian liberation.
Wave of Prayer. Subscribe to receive Sabeel's Wave of Prayer, enabling friends of Sabeel around the world to pray over issues of critical concern to the Holy Land on a weekly basis.
Kumi Now! June 4-10: (Week 23) Environmental Effects of Occupation. Kumi Now is an online gathering every Tuesday (6pm Palestine) with a guest speaking on the weekly topic. Register here.
June 5 is World Environment Day. While Palestinians as a people are under constant threat and assault from the occupation, the environment around them, and on which they rely, bears similar attack. A community can’t hope to heal in an environment that is sick, and conversely, a society that is suffering is unable to aid the environment in its own recovery. Here’s what you need to know about the environmental effects of the occupation and what you can do so that together we can rise up.